The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr Umar Manko, says?the absence of sustainable logistics and over centralisation of police?administration has impacted negatively on the ability of the police to meet set goals.
Manko made the remark in Lagos at an interview with the News agency of Nigeria (NAN) as he?reflected?on?police activities between?the country's independence 52 years ago and their operations today.
He said?the?Nigeria Police Force has changed from what it used to be after independence?and suggested a return to the recent past, where most police stations and divisional police officers (DPOs) provided the needs of his men and officers.
Manko argued also that making divisional police stations accountable would increase the man-hour committed in managing national security challenges.
He acknowledged?that various changes were being effected by the police administrations over the years?to change the face of the force for the better,?enhance its operational performance and shore up its public image and confidence.
The commissioner?said that in spite of the changes, the current Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar's radical approach towards attitudinal change in the force has restored confidence among the officers and men.
“The situation we found ourselves today is a complete departure from what it used to be.”
Manko identified?funding as a major challenge of the police which makes it difficult for the organisation to meet its constitutional responsibilities.
“The major challenge of the Nigeria Police, from my?personal observation, is that of funding. Security is not a cheap venture, security is a very expensive venture. If you don’t pay, you don’t get it.
?“Therefore, to get adequate security in place, there must be proper funding and that entails fund for infrastructure, barrack accommodation, welfare of the personnel, training and re-training, institutional developments.
“All?these things need money. Unless there are proper funding, issues or problems of infrastructure will continue to be there and other challenges.''
The Commissioner said that the operational gap between what it used to be in the police after independence and now showed that the decay had affected efficient security service delivery.
“I remember when we came in?(as cadet officers).?In a typical police station in those days, there were,?at least, three mandated vehicles.
“We had?a truck that carried the?men to their duty posts?and carried?those who were?disengaging from their duty posts back to the station to parade and dismiss.
“We had?a black-Maria that took?suspects to the courts every morning and took?those who were supposed to go to prisons from there.
“We had?a Land Rover going round and monitoring our men at their duty posts. We also had?a station wagon, which served?as an official car for the Divisional Police Officer (DPO).”?(NAN)